Three Corpus Christi Police Department SWAT Team officers were shot during a narcotics raid in the 3000 block of Churchill, near the HEB Tennis Center, Thursday morning at around 9 a.m.
Simpson said that as officers made entry to the house, the three suspects opened fire.
Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson held a press conference at around 10:30 a.m., where he reported that the three suspects were taken into custody by members of the SWAT Team. The area around the home was secured, and the house has been cleared.
46-year old Ray Rosas was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted capital murder. Another suspect has not been charged with shooting at the officers, but does still face charges from the original arrest warrant in relation to the narcotics raid. He has yet to be booked into the City Detention Center. The third suspect, a female, was detained but police say no charges are expected to be filed against her.
The three police officers who were shot are being treated at Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital. Officer Andrew Jordan, a four-year veteran of the CCPD, was shot in the upper leg and forearm; Senior Officer Steven Ruebelmann, a six-year veteran, was shot in the wrist and hand; and Officer Steven Brown, a two-year veteran, received a superficial wound to his right calf.
The Neighborhood
Witnesses said it was chaotic scene, but neighbors who live on the block said they are not surprised it happened. They say the have been waiting for police to do something.
One neighbor told 3News that they constantly saw strange people going in and out of the house at all times of day. Others said they were surprised that no one else was hurt.
Neighbors said they heard loud noises early in the morning, and many ran outside of their homes to see what was going on. In fact, many were blocked in their driveways by ambulances and police cars.
Even a school bus full of children found itself in the middle of the action.
"The same second the school bus was right here at the stop sign, was the same time the shots were going off," neighbor Mireya Perez said.
"The cops and paramedics were running everywhere," neighbor Damian Meza said. "They were running up and down the street."
Still, many neighbors told 3News that they still feel safe living in their homes.
The house that was raided is still taped off, but police said traffic in the area has resumed.
The Officers
3News confirmed at around 1:45 p.m. that Officer Brown was released from the hospital. Police say officers Jordan and Ruebelmann are still being treated. Jordan underwent surgery and is stable, and Ruebelmann is in a private room recovering.
Police Chief Floyd Simpson, who was visiting the wounded officers in the hospital Thursday afternoon, said the city is blessed during his morning news conference.
"It's a good day, but we are blessed because we are among the living, and we certainly don't like to be in the position that we're in."
The hospital did confirm that both of the police officers who are still being hospitalized are currently in stable condition.
Thursday's shooting brings the number of CCPD officers shot in the past year to five. The other two occurred in March of last year when they were shot by a fleeing suspect. Both recovered from their wounds.
